Key West
Big Pine Key, FL 33043-6087
Plan Your Visit
Key West NWR is accessible only by boat. To reach the refuge, visitors with boats can use a variety of public and private boat ramps throughout the Lower Florida Keys. Private charter fishing and eco-tour services are also available and are a great way to visit the refuge if you don’t have your own boat. A great place to start your visit is at the Nature Center for the four Florida Keys NWRs, located at 30587 Overseas Highway on Big Pine Key.
Services
About
The Florida Keys Wilderness, established within the refuge by Congress in 1975, encompasses 6,197 acres. This area is preserved and protected in its natural condition as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System to prevent modification by expanding settlement and growing mechanization. The refuge's backcountry islands are pristine and uninhabited, providing critical nesting, feeding, and resting areas for a wide variety of birds and marine life.